70 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



there is sometimes danger from frost. 

 This danger in the citrus localities of the 

 Salt River Valley only exists for say an 

 hour at a time, and that about sunrise of 

 a frosty morning. The horticulturist is 

 able by flooding his irrigation ditches 

 with water at this time, to obviate, or 

 lessen, the danger to his fruit. The water 

 in the ditches will freeze before the fruit 

 or the tree and thus the temperature of 

 the " surrounding air is raised. This 

 phenomenon exists all over the district 

 under irrigation, to a greater or less ex- 

 tent, and the extremes of day and night 

 temperatures are thus modified. 



As to the influence of irrigation on the 

 healthfulness of the inhabitants of an 

 irrigated district I can be more positive. 

 It is demonstrated by actual experience 

 to be advantageous. Phoenix and the 

 Salt Eiver Valley is the healthiest place 

 in the United States. Next to it comes 

 Salt Lake City, Utah, also in an irrigated 

 district. 



That part of the Salt River Valley north 

 of the Salt River, west of the Verde, and 

 east of the Agua Fria, covering a territory 

 of 250 square miles and including the 

 City of Phoenix, of 'which the population 

 on a conservative basis for 1895 is placed 

 at 15,000, had for the year named an an- 

 nual death rate of 5.04 per one thousand 

 inhabitants. Salt Lake City during the 

 corresponding year had a death rate of 

 7.37. Our death rate for the five summer 

 months last year was but \ of one per 

 cent, of our population, or 2.54 for one 

 thousand inhabitants in the above named 

 territory. With this showing no one for 

 an instant can imagine that in the least 

 does irrigation militate against health. 



On the other hand I believe that irriga- 

 tion is a major factor in increasing the 

 healthfulness of a community. It is 

 probable that on account of our favorable 

 climatic conditions this is more emphat- 

 ically true of the Salt River Valley than 

 any other locality. I refer this fact 

 chiefly to three causes. 



Under an irrigation system properly 

 operated there are no water holes, or 

 sloughs in which vegetation grows only to 

 decompose and pollute the air. There 

 are no pools of stagnant water to create 

 miasms. The water supply is under 

 man's control, both as to volume and 

 times of distribution. Vegetation is rank 

 and prolific, but grows only where it is 

 desired, and is limited to valuable prod- 

 ucts. Useless vegetation is discouraged, 

 but should it by chance exist, ifc rather 

 dries up than rots. 



This low death rate is further explained 

 by the constant living in the open air, 

 which we enjoy to its utmost limit. 



Irrigation by promoting the rapid and 

 phenomenal growth of trees and the ver- 

 dant grass which carpets our lawns makes 

 a continuous existence out of doors pos- 

 sible and enjoyable for three-quarters of 

 the year. 



We live nature's life as nature intended 

 we should live it, and have our reward of 

 unparalleled healthfulness. 



I do not believe there is any other place 

 on earth where children are so universally 

 healthy. This is especially true of the 

 summer season. They are marvelously 

 free from "summer complaint" and 

 kindred ailments. I never saw any place 

 where the children thrive as they do in 

 the Salt River Valley. 



To quote Capt. Grlassford again, he says 

 in the same article: "This greater por- 

 tion of Arid America, elevated high above 

 the humid levels of the east, covered with 

 aspects most sublime of the earth, fed 

 with the most invigorating constituents of 

 the atmosphere, will yet be appreciated; 

 and these elements, under the influence 

 of modern civilization, will produce the 

 hardiest and grandest race of men and 

 women who have yet trod the planet. 

 They will create a Western empire and 

 become masters of the continent, if not of 

 the world." 



